In a first for the region, Westland Mineral Sands will shortly start a mineral sand mine looking for "rare earth" elements such as titanium, on its own property in Okari Rd, about 27km southwest of Westport.
Managing director Ray Mudgway said yesterday the company was "almost there".
All the plant is on site and will be assembled by the end of next week.
There are about 20 staff at the mine, and recruitment is about to ramp up, taking staff numbers to 40 by the end of November.
At first a small freighter will be used to transport the bulk product to Nelson, ahead of a contract being signed with an Asian company to bring in a barge.
From there a deep sea vessel will carry the product overseas from around the end of November.
Required work in Westport, including installing CCTV, pavement work and building a staging area, is under way.
Mining will start when the plant is commissioned in mid-October.
Mr Mudgway said a new liaison group had been formed to engage with the community.
Greymouth Star
